The basics

Best Cheap Eats Poll: What is your favorite cheap eat in hot dogs?

Willie's Dawgs

Photo: Nicole Braun

Hot dogs

Crif Dogs
Ditch your dietary restrictions before descending the stairs to this East Village meat lair, where the $2.50 hot dogs are deep-fried and, for a buck extra, wrapped in salty bacon. The Spicy Redneck ($4.50) takes this theme to extremes, adding chili, coleslaw and jalapeños, turning a wiener into a four-alarm belly-filler. 113 St. Marks Pl between First Ave and Ave A (212-614-2728)

Willie’s Dawgs
Willie’s cartoonish hot-dog mural belies the fact that this Park Slope newbie serves an inventive veggie alternative: a grilled, marinated carrot smothered with cheese and avocado ($4.25) or just grilled carrot in bun ($3.50). Meat munchers, however, will stick to the snappy all-beef options ($3.50) souped up with caramelized onions or sweet red peppers for a couple quarters extra. 351 Fifth Ave between 4th and 5th Sts, Park Slope, Brooklyn (718-832-2941)

Dogmatic
Hot dogs go high class at this West Village restaurnt. Fresh baguettes are hollowed, pierced and toasted, creating a crispy cocoon filled with $4.50 gourmet franks fashioned from pasture-raised critters (vegetarians can order an asparagus dog, also $4.50). Style your nibble with jalapeño-cheddar or truffled-Gruyère condiments for extra luxury—at no additional cost. Union Square, 26 E 17th St (212-414-0600)—Joshua M. Bernstein

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